Combined rail lifter and spike puller



`.1. ANpRE'ws; JR- COMBINED RAIL LIFTER AND' SPIKE PLLER Filed Sept. 25, 1929 gmc/nto@ vJalz Patented Mey 5, 1931 FFlCEA ooMBrnEn Rein METER AnnsriKnrULLnn Application led September 25', 1929. Serial No. 395,132.

The invention relates to implements for use by railway track men to lift the rails relatively to the tie for insertion of. plates between the rail base and the tie.

Heretofore this work has been done by means of crow bars or pinch bars, but because of the length of time it requires with such implements to accomplish the work, and because of the fact that men are daily injured in such work, the invention of the application has been developed to make it possible for two men to accomplish what has heretofore required four or more men, and to make it possible for the two men to accomplish work of several groups of men, and also eliminate hazards to the men in the operation.

A further object of the invention is theV provision of a tool of the character stated comprising a to which is secured a U-shaped member having its bent portions spaced a considerable distance from one another and from the handle and provided with shoulders to engage under the base of the rail, the portion of the U-shaped member adjacent to the handle forming the fulcrum for a lever to raise the rail relatively to the tie, the spaced ends of the U-shaped member providing for insertion of a plate under the rail for leveling the track and also to relieve the tie of the wear incident to the rails resting directly en the tie. The tool also has the end of the handle vremote from the U-shaped member provided with a claw that' may be used for drawing spikes. The invention will be described in detail hereinafter and will be found illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a top plan view of a fragment of a railroad track showing theimproved tool in operative position,

Figure 2 is a side yview of the tool showing the track in cross section, y

I Figure 3 is a sectional detail view on a plane indicated by the line 33 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is another detail sectional view on a plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure l.

In the drawings similar reference charachandle with a downturned end ters are used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The improved tool comprises a handle 1 having one of its ends provided with ya claw 2 that may be used for withdrawing railway spikes, and the like, while its other end has a downturned portion 3 to which is secured a lol-shaped member 4 made of a plate of metal, such for instance as steel and having its arms 5 spaced remote from one another and from the downturned end 3 so as to provide means for engaging under the base of a rail A remote from a tie B on which the member 4 is rested s and forms a fulcrum forithe tool in lifting the rail A for the purpose of inserting a plate under the rail and above the tie. The U- shaped member is widened at each side of the middle portion of the bight thereof as shown at 6, and has the arms 5 provided with a considerably widened portion including a downwardly extended portion 7 to add to the strength of the device. The extremities of the U-shaped member 4 are provided with cutaway portions forming shoulders 8 that extend under the base of the rail A a sufiicient distance to insure raising the rail off the tie when in operation. 9 indicates a brace member secured as shown at 10 to the handle l and having a downturned portion 11` that is secured with the downturned portion 3 to the U-shaped member 4 by means of a bolt or other suitable fastening 12. 13 indicates spacing sleeves mounted between the handle Y l and the brace Vmember 9.and held secured thereto by means of bolts 14 secured to said S handle 'l and brace member 9 and extending through the bore of said sleeves.

What is claimed is l. A tool of the class described', comprising a handle having a downturned end, a U- shaped member secured to said down-turned end and adapted to rest on a railroad tie, a

brace secured to said handle and to said member, spacing means secured between said handle and brace, and the ends of said member provided with shoulders adapted to engage under the base of a railroad rail to lift the rail relatively to the tie.

2. A tool of the class described, comprisingl a handle having a downturned end, a U- shaped member secured to said down-turned end, a brace secured to said handle and to said member, a spacing sleeve, a bolt secured to the handle and brace and inserted through the sleeve7 and the ends of said U-shaped .member provided' with shoulders, said U- shaped member adjacent to the handle being adapted to rest on a railroad tie and provide a fulcrum for the tool, and the shoulders being adapted to engage under the base of a railroad rail to lift it relatively to the tie.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature JOHN ANDREWS, JR. 

